Culvert



March 22, 1932.

H. A. SPINDLER GULVERT Filed Sept. 9, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (Ittornegs,

Patented 22, 1932 HERMAN SPINDLEB, OF COLUMBUS, TEXAS CULVERT Application filed September 9, 1931. Serial No. 581,917.

The'present invention relates to improvements in the construction of culverts for use under roadways and the like.

An important feature of the invention is to provide a sectional culvert with means for interlocking the adjacent sections together, so that they are maintained firmly m positiomwhich means dispenses with the use of pins, bolts or rods, usually employed for holding the parts of the culvert or head walls in place.

Afurther object consists in providing a culvert of separate preformed units or sections, in which the end sections are the same length as the intermediate sections.

Another object is to provide a simple, economical and eflicient culvert construction which may be made of cementitious material,

iron, wood, burnt clay or the like, and which when cast out of reinforced concrete will re quire only three molds to form the parts constituting the complete culvert.

A further object comprehends the provision of means for detachably connecting the sections of the culvert, whereby the parts may be readily assembled or dismantled and ensure the culvert being maintained firmly in position so as to prevent longitudinal or transverse movement of the sections when the parts are set up. I

A further object is to provide headwalls with depending leg portions which straddle the upper and lower sections of the culvert adjacent the ends thereof, and extend below the bottom sections to ensure the culvert being maintained effectively in position. 7

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the fol lowing description when taken in conjunction with the following claims.

Referring. to the drawings, in which is shown a tion:

Figure l is a tional culvert.

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 2 -2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a disassembled view of one. end of the culvert.

preferred embodiment of the invenperspective View of the seclap the joints 18 formed by the Figure 4 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line H of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings in which like numerals indicate like parts in the several views, 10 generally indicates a sectional culvert, which for convenience of illustration, has been shown made of wood, but which can readily be molded from cementitious material or formed from iron, burnt clay or the like. The culvert 10 comprises the end sections 11 and the intermediate sections 12, 13 and 14, the sections 11 and 12 constituting the lower or trough sections of the culvert, and the sections 13 and 14 comprising the upper or cover sections thereof. Each of the sections is of the same length, so that the intermediate sections may be readily interchanged, that is, to say, the lower section 12 may be interchanged with one of the upper sections 13 and 14; without in any way atfecting the assembling of the culvert.

In order to provide a simple and inexpensive sectional number of parts and which may be readily assembled or penditure of time and labor, and yet be ca pable of withstanding the usage to which devices of this character are subjected, the upper and lower sections are connected together by forming each of the upper sections 13 and 14' with spaced depending arms 15 that extend from the sides of the sections adjacent the ends thereof, so as to engage the sides of adjacent arms 16 that project upwardly from the lower sections 11 and 12. While the arms are shown secured to the sides of the sections by the nails 17, it is to be understood that, when the sections are made of cementitious material, the arms may be formed as an integral part of the sections. The arms 15 and 16 are so positioned relative to one another, that the upper and lower sections overadjacent horizontal sections of the culvert.

The arms 16 of the end sections 11 are preferahly tormedwith lateral offset port-ions 19, which coact with vertically disposed ribs or shoulders 20, that extend from the sides of the section 11 and the adjacent depending arms 15 of the upper sections, so as to form a dismantled at a minimum eX- culvert comprising a minimum vertically disposed the groove 21, andextend an appreciable dis-V tance below the bottom of the culvert, so that of the sections 1.1

' and form a continuation thereof when the I parts are set up. Obviously,

when the culvert'is set up beneath a road or the like,.the extending portions of the legs 23 will ensurethe parts being held firmly in place, earth above the end sections 11, to prevent it from clogging the passage formed in the culvert by the sections.

' Theend sections 11 are interchangeable so that no skill is required. in, assembling the culvert, and each-of these sections may with each other,

be formed with inclined sides 22,,which extend upwardly from the outer ends thereof and merge with the upper portion of the ribs 20. "The inner end of each is provided with reduced sides 23, which are of substantially the same heightas the sides of the lower section 12,

intermediate sectionsmay be used, depending upon the length of the culvert, and since each of these intermediate sections are of the same size and similar to one another in every respect, the culvert may be installed at a minimum expenditure of time andlabor.

The arms 15 and 1 6 are arranged in opposed .airs which extend orlap over the 7 sides 0 the opposed sections so as to prevent transverse movement of the sections relative to one another while the engagement of each of theopposed pairs of the arms tends to pre-' clude the possibility of the sections moving longitudinally when the parts are set up.

' It willb'e observed that when the culvert is cast of reinforced concrete only'three molds will be required, one for the head walls, one for the intermediateor middle sections, and one for the end sections. Moreover, by reason of the connection of the sections with each other-through the arms 15 and 16, no bolts,

pins, rods or the like are required to hold the sections of the'culvert or head walls in place. It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described, is

. merely illustrative ment, and thatsuch changes may be made without departing from the spiritof the invention'or'the-scope of the appended claims,

as fall within the purview of one skilled in the art. i r

I claim:

I 1., A. culvert of the class described comprising upper and'low'er interfitting sections, each I of the vertically V opposed sections having means extending "from the sides thereofarranged to coact with each other formaintain mg the parts inassembled position, head'walls and thehead walls will act to bank the any number of V of a preferred embodihaving arms extending from the sides thereof and arranged in opposed pairs, each pair adapted to engage the sides when the parts are set up, said arms being positioned so that, the upper and lower sec tions overlap the joints formed by the adjacent horizontally 'disposedsections.

ing upper and lower sections of substantially the same length, each ofthe vertically opposed'sections having arms extending from the sidesathereof, said arms being positioned so that the upper and lower sections overlap the joints formed by the adjacent horizontally disposed sections, the arms of the vertically opposed sections arranged to engage the sides of each other to. maintain the parts inassembled position. 4. A culvert of the class described comprisingupper and lower sections of substantially the same length, each of the vertically opposed sections having arms extending from the sides thereof,said arms being positione so that the upper and lower sections overlap culvert adjacent the ends thereof, each 0 said head walls having legs extending down the sides of the upper and lower sections, and

' guide means in the sides of said'sections for receiving said legs. i j

5. 'A culvert of the class described comprising upper and lower intermediate sections and of the opposite sections and each other to prevent transverse and longitudinal mo'vement'of the sections 3. A culvert'of the class described compristhe arms of the vertically V end sections, said sections being of substantially the same length, the vertically opposed. sections having spaced arms extending from the sides thereof, the arms on the upper sections being offset relative to the adj acent arms on the lower sections so that their sidesengage when the parts are assembled, each of said end sectionshaving a vertically in the sides thereof and spaced from the adj acent arm of the upper section to form a'groove therebetween, and head walls arran'ed to straddle the ends of the culvert and avin'g depending legs which fit in the grooves and extend beyond the bottom of the culvert.

- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. I p r A. SPINDLER;

disposed rib 

